The best cat dishes & dog bowls

After a lifetime using dogs bowls and cat dishes, I’ve seen a bit of everything: bowls that chip or crack, that look tired after a few washes, that melt or simply break in half. Here are the two brands I trust will provide you the best bowls and dishes for years and won’t even look old.

Durapet Bowls

For more than five years we have been using the stainless steal Durapet cat dishes and dog bowls, which I’m starting to believe are indestructible. I’ve been washing them in the dish washer every single time, and they still look like new.

They might not be the most appealing dishes and bowls, since they are simply a metal bowl with rubber on the bottom, but the material is hygienic, the rubber ring bonded to the bottom (so they don’t slide around) never detached, and they’re sturdy enough not to dent, crack or scratch. They even stack very well, so they take up very little space.

Now I know why the manufacturer offers a lifetime guarantee.

Also, stainless steel is safer than other materials. Plastic bowls are porous, which allows bacteria to lodge beneath the surface. Ceramic bowls look great, but they chip and break.

The bowls come in different sizes for cats and dogs, and you can buy deeper or more shallow ones. The tall ones work best for my cat Gaijin, who sometimes spills food out of the flat bowls. I totally recommend these products, for either cats and dogs if you are looking for something to last forever. Spectacular items for daily use. You can buy the at Amazon.com.

Bella Bowls

For two years, we’ve also been using the Bella Bowls. They are made of stainless steal on the inside, and plastic on the outside. I’ve also been putting them in the dish washer like crazy, and the bowl looks like brand new.

Comparing to the Durapet, the Bella bowls are prettier. They come in 4 sizes and 10 different colors, and can even be custom-imprinted with your design if you’re looking for something exclusive.

The bowls seem to be a little bit less sturdy than the Durapet ones, since they are a combination of metal and plastic. But, really, I haven’t seen any difference between them both in terms of durability or appearance after years of heavy use. Both have rubber rings underneath, but Bella’s bowls allow you to remove the rubber if you’d like to (don’t know why we would do such thing, but it’s good to know).

I highly recommend the bella bowls, and I am really impressed on how well they have performed during all those months of heavy use. You can buy them at Amazon.com.

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Susan

Boy, Daniela — Thank you so much for all the comparison shopping you did for us — this really helps us — thank you for your hard work putting this together for us — you are a gem — I will, also, be sharing this with those I know who are having difficulty with their lovelie’s dishes — You and your lovelies, Mom and Martin have a wonderful and great day :)

Thank you, Susan! I have tested dozens of dishes and bowls, and really these are the only ones I came across that will last forever. We can get all sorts of pretty ceramic bowls at TJ Maxx or the like, but they eventually chip. Plastic ones should not be used because of contamination with bacteria. Plastic is porous and the bacteria gets into the tiny pores. Tell your friends I’m available in case they have any questions. And please let me know of any products you love, OK? :-)

Susan

Thank you, again, for the information — I have the same analysis for the stainless steel bowls when it comes to mixing bowls. I love the stainless steel construction — very durable and stand up a for long, long time. I feel the lovely needs to have the same; especially with non-slip bottom — this will help immensely — I am always concerned with the bacteria and the transference of it — but, I love both styles: with and without the non-slip bottom stainless steel — I can spoil my lovely — I always love doing that :)

Wow, Loving Pets has just answered too (both these companies are really good at making bowls and responding!!), and the Bella Bowls are also made in India. :-)

Virginia Greenwood-Warner

Hi, Those look great, however when one has a tall dog, the bowls should be raised to almost shoulder height. I have had a wooden “table” built where the bowls drop in so they can’t slide around and the height of the table was perfect for the Great Dane. I have the same for my Spaniel to suit her height.